PIMS fire: IHC seeks detailed report and actions taken from federal government

ISLAMABAD: On Monday, the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) termed the fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) horrific, noting that 14 innocent infants were burned alive, ARY News reported.

The IHC Chief Justice was hearing a petition filed by counsel Qasim Iqbal Jalali, which sought a judicial inquiry into the incident.

The additional attorney general, deputy attorney general, and assistant attorney general appeared before the court.

The IHC ordered the federal government to submit a detailed report regarding the incident and requested a copy of the report previously presented to the prime minister, along with details of any action taken based on it.

Petitioner’s counsel Qasim Iqbal Jalali stated that both committees constituted by the government consisted of bureaucrats, questioning how a bureaucrat could impartially investigate their own department.

The Chief Justice asked the counsel under which law a judicial inquiry could be ordered, adding, “Where is it written in the Inquiry Act that the court can order one?”

The counsel informed the court that a judicial commission had been established following the Punjab Institute of Cardiology incident.

Justice Sarfaraz Dogar responded that the commission in that case was not constituted by the court, adding that such actions must be initiated by the government.

“If anything is going to happen, then I would ask a judge to look into the matter,” the Chief Justice remarked.

The counsel argued that no one can be a judge in their own cause, noting that accountability had not been fixed in the inquiry report presented thus far.

Responding to the counsel, Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez informed the court that the health secretary was suspended from his position the day the incident happened. PIMS officials were also suspended based on the interim report, the additional attorney general added.

The Chief Justice asked, “If the government is taking action, is there any prohibition barring the court from ordering something?”